DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent in July. Iowa’s jobless rate was 3.1 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.2 percent in July The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 64,900 in July from 63,700 in June. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,672,600 in July.

DES MOINES – Lawn watering restrictions implemented in central Iowa due to high nitrate levels have been lifted. KCCI-TV reports Central Iowa Water Works has voted to resume normal irrigation policies for the first time since May 30th, impacting hundreds of households in central Iowa. The restrictions had been slowly lifted since July. The water works nitrate removal facility was shut down last week after operating nearly every day since April 28th.

CLINTON – Two eastern Iowa pharmacies could be sanctioned by the state. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports two Walgreens locations in Clinton and Dubuque join four others for alleged violation of regulations. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has accused leadership at both locations of failing to maintain records and committing alleged acts that violate the Controlled Substances Act. Three other Walgreens in the state were fined by the Board of Pharmacy in July for medication-dispensing errors.